Temperature regulator



April 1, 1930. A. J. NELSON 1,752,390

TEMPERATURE REGULATOR Filed April 21, 1928 Patented Apr. 1, 1930 PATENT OFFICE .ALBIN JOHN NELSON OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK TEMPERATURE REGULATOR Application filed Apri1 21 1928. Serial No. 271,757.

This invention relates to temperature regulators, and "has particular reference to devices of this character which are adapted to regu late the flow of a heating medium.

In thermostats of this nature, an inlet valve to a tank or other receptacle containing a heating medium, .is controlled by a motor which is operated by a thermosensitive bulb. This bulb contains a volatile liquid, which, with the rise or fall of the temperature in said tank, causes a corresponding expansion or contraction of the motor, which operates the valve accordingly. However, should the temperature, for some unforeseen reason contmue to rise, and the motor having reached its limit of expansion, the instrument would necessarily break.

It is an object of this invention to provlde a device of the character described wherein improved means renders the instrument safe against breakage due to overheating of the bulb.

A further object of this invention is to produce a device of the type mentioned, having an expansible and collapsible relief chamber for the volatile fluid.

Another object of this invention is the production of a device of the class specified in which the relief chamber has improved coaction with the valve motor, and with the means for adjusting the relief chamber to, set the same to function at a predetermined temperature.

Other objectsand advantages of the invention will become apparent as the specification proceeds.

With the aforesaid objects in view, the 1nvention consists in the novel combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter described in their preferred embodiments, pointed out in the subjoined claims, and 11- lustra'ted in the annexed drawmg.

The drawing shows a sectional view in elevation of an embodiment of theinvention.

-Generally described, the invention resides in the provision of an expansible and collapsible relief chamber for the liquid in the bulb to prevent the instrument from bursting due to overheating. This relief chamber is in,

alinement with the motor of the valve,- and motor 25.

is preferably positioned in the concave side of said motor, the direction of expansion of the relief chamber being opposite to that of the motor. An expansion spring acts to retamthe relief chamber normally collapsed. Coacting with the spring, is a member for ad ustingthe t'ension thereof. Since the relief chamber engages the adj acentwall of the motor, the saidwall acts as an anchor for the relief chamber.

he device, as thusconstructed, is extremely compact.

The advantages of the invention as here outlined are best realized when all of its features and instrumentalities are combined in one and the same structure, but, usefuldevices may be produced embodying less than difi'erent constructions. The accompanying drawing, therefore, is submitted merely as showmg the preferred exemplification of the invention.

Referring in detail to the drawing, 10 denotes a evice embodying the invention.

The same includes a valve 11 of any suitable construction for controlling the flow of a heating medium as, for example, steam to a tank (not shown). The said valve comprises a stem 12 which is packed tightat 13. Suported on the valve is a frame .14 which can e of any desired construction, but as here shown, includes a cross member 15 intermediate the ends thereof, and a wall 16 at the free end of the frame. Threaded into the cross member 15 is a sleeve 17 having an end wall 18, in proximit to which are a plurality of radial holes 19 or'rotational 8.6.]118171116111) of the sleeve. An annular guide 20 is formed on the wall 18 to provide a seat for the bushing 21. The latter extends into the adjacent end of the helical spring 22, that enters the sleeve 17. The stem 12 passes centrally through the spring 22, and is fixedly secured to a bushing 23 that engages the other end of the spring. -Attached to bushing 23 is a movable disc 24, with which is engaged the The motor 25 constitutes an hermetically sealed expansible and collapsible chamber, having a corrugated outer wall 25 and a rigid inner wall 25. The latter is secured to the member 16 of the frame in any manner well known in the art, while the movable portion 25 has engagement with the disc 24.

A bulb 26 communicates with the motor 25 through a capillary tube 27. A flexible tube 28 connects the said bulb with the frame 14, and protects the capillary tube 27 The bulb 26 as well as the motor 25 and the capillary tube are filled with a volatile liquid. As the bulb responds to the temperature of the tank into which it extends, the vapor generated drives part of the liquid that is in the bulb,

through the capillary tube, and into the motor 25. The latter thereupon expands and causes the valve stem to be moved to throttle the supply of heating medium to the said tank.

Positioned within the wall 25", in alinement with the motor 25, is a relief chamber 29. This is in the nature of an expansible and collapsible receptacle, comprising an outer corrugated wall 29, and an inner rigid wall 29". The said relief chamber is in communication with the motor 25, through an opening 30 in the wall 25*, the bellows structure 29 being secured to the rigid wall of the motor about the said opening. Lugs 31, mounted on a collar 32 engage the wall 25 around the opening 30. These lugs retain the wall 29 in spaced relation to prevent the same from closing the opening 30 so that a full and uniform pressure may be available at all times for ex-' panding the relief chamber when an emergency arises, and all of the liquid in the bulb must be removed therefrom.

To retain the relief chamber 29 normally closed, an expansible coil spring 33 is mounted within the wall 29 thereof in alinement with the relief chamber. One end of this spring bears directl'fon the wall 29", while the other engages a bushing 34. To adjust the tension of spring 33, a screw 35 acts against the said bushing. The relief chamber can thus be set to function only when the bulb has been heated beyond a given temperature. A hub 36 may surround the head of the screw, and be closed by a plug 37 to prevent unintended change of the adjustment.

The operation of the device will now be clearly apparent; In course of regulatlng the temperature, should the same for some unforeseen reason rise beyond the proper limit, the tension of spring 33 would then be exceeded, and'the relief chamber 29 expand until all the liquid in the bulb had been removed therefrom. This expansion, it will be noted, is in a direction opposite to that of the motor It will be understood that within the scope of the invention, the springs 22, 33 as well as their screw threaded. adjusting devices, may

aveaseo munication with said vessel, and a flexiblewalled relief chamber for the bulb in communi'cation therewith, said bulb, said vessel, and said chamber being charged with an expansive fluid, said' relief chamber being of smaller area than the vessel and expansible bnly after expansion of the vessel, said vessel and said chamber being in all nod relation and having a common wail thereoetween, said wall having an openingafiording communi-. cation between the vessel and chamber.

2. A device of the character described, in cluding a valve for controlling the flow of a heating medium, a vessel having a flexible wall connected to said valve, a bulb in communication with said vessel, and a flexible walled relief chamber for the communieating with said. vessel, said bulb, said vessel, and said chamber being charged with an expansible fluid, the relief chamber being ex= pansible after the vessel has reached its limit of expansion, and spring means tending to compress the said vessel and chamber, the vessel, chamber, and spring means being all in aligned relation, the vessel having a central concave wall to externally receive the chamber 3. A device of the character described, in-

cluding a valve for controlling the flow of a heating medium, a vessel having a flexible wall connected to said valve, a bulb in communication with said vessel, a flexible walled relief chamber for thebulb communicatin with said vessel, the chamber, the bulb, an the vessel being filled with an expansible liquid, and means to set the chamber to expand in response to a 'ven pressure of the liquid, said chamber eing of smaller area than the vessel to be expansible only after expansion of the vessehsaid vessel having a con cave wall to externally receive said chamber for compactness of the device. 1

4.. A deviceof the character described, including a valve for controlling the flow of a heating medium, a vessel having a flexible wall connected to said valve, a bulb in communication with said vessel, and a flexible walled relief chamber for the bulb communicating with said vessel, the chamber, the bulb, and the vessel being filled with an expansive fluid, the chamber being directly attached to. the vessel and expansible in a direction opposite to that of the vessel, after the vessel heating medium, a vessel having a flexible wall connected to said valve, a bulb in communication with said vessel, and a flexible walled relief chamber for the bulb communicating with said vessel, the chamber, the vessel, and the bulb being filled with an expansive fluid, the chamber being expansible only after the vessel has reached its llmit of expansion, the vessel and chamber being in alinement with each other and having a common wall at substantially right angles to their axes, the chamber and vessel expanding in opposite directions from said common wall.

6. A device of the character described, including a valve for controlling the flow of a heating medium, a vessel having a flexible wall connected to said valve, a bulb in communication with said vessel, and a flexible walled relief chamber for the bulb communicatin with said vessel, the chamber, the bulb, and t e vessel being filled with a volatile liquid, the chamber being ex ansible only after the vessel has reached its imit of expansion, the said vessel having a stationary concave wall, and the said chamber being positioned within said Wall the chamber and vessel expanding in opposite directions from the stationary wall.

7 A device as set forth, including a valve for controlling the flow of a heating medium, a vessel having a flexible wall connected to said valve, a bulb in communication with said vessel, and a flexible walled relief chamber for the bulb communicating with said vessel, the chamber, the bulb, and the Vessel being filled wi'h a volatile liquid, the chamber expandin only after the vessel has reached its limit 0 expansion, means tending to collapse the cha nber, and other means engaging the vessel it the point of communication thereof with the chamber and serving to space the adjacent wall of said chamber from said point of communication.

8. A device of the character described, including a valve for controlling the 'flow of a heating medium, a vessel having a flexible wall connected to said valve, a bulb in com-' munication with said vessel, a flexible Walled relief chamber for the bulb communicating with said vessel the chamber, the bulb, and the vessel being filled with an ex ansible fluid, the chamber expandin only a er the vessel has reached its limito expansion, and a coil spring to set the chamber to expand at a predetermined temperature at the bulb, the vessel, the chamber, and the spring being in alinement with each other, the vessel having a concave wall to receive the chamber, and the latter having a concave wall to I receive the spring.

9. device of the character described, in-

cluding a valve for controlling the flow of a heating medium, a vessel having a flexible wall connected to said valve, a bulb in communication with said vessel, a flexible walled relief chamber for the bulb communicating with said vessel, the chamber, the bulb, and the vessel being filled with a volatile liquid, the chamber expanding only after the vessel has reached its limit of ex ansion, and a support, one wall of the vesse being fixed to said support, and an adjacent wall of the chamber being fixed to the aforesaid wall of the vessel.

10. A device of the character described, including means for controlling the flow of a heating medium, a bulb having an expansive fluid, a flexible vessel coacting to control said means, said vessel being responsive tothe pressure of said fluid, a flexible relief chamber for the pressure, said vessel and said chamber being directly connected to each other, and a common support for both of them, said .common support being in the nature of a concave wall for the vessel, the chamber having a concave wall aligned with the first mentioned concave wall, a spring for the chamber seatedin the concave wall thereof, the first mentioned concave wall receiving both the chamber and its spring, and adjustable tension means for the vessel tending to compress the same.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature. ALBIN JOHN NELSON. 

